Volunteers plea to assist vulnerable
LANCASHIRE residents are being encouraged to sign up to support the vulnerable in their community during the coronavirus outbreak.
Two community initiatives have been set up with the help of Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to provide a county-wide support net for people affected the most by the crisis.
Both Lancashire Volunteer Partnership and Our Lancashire will collaborate to encourage more volunteers to join a collaborative force of 5,000 volunteers already working in the public service.
People can help as either a telephone befriender or have a more active role at a local district community hub.
Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “There are many ways the public can help vulnerable people in their community and we’ve already seen some amazing offers of support across social media and most recently through the Government NHS volunteer scheme.
“We are fortunate in Lancashire to already have Lancashire Volunteer Partnership established who are now completely focused on how they can support people in need at this time.
“They are seeking to recruit additional Community Support Volunteers who can support vulnerable people, either as a telephone befriender or a more active role supporting a local district community hub.”
Volunteering could involve something as simple as a weekly welfare call to help to identify any immediate needs, to picking up shopping, to help pack up, deliver food and daily essentials parcels.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering, or who feels isolated, vulnerable and in need of support can get help through the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership by calling 01772 416 417.